Thomas Jefferson University's School of Health Professions Professor Published in Radiologic Technology

PHILADELPHIA, PA (09/18/2012)(readMedia)-- Dr. Richard Weening, PhD, RT(R)(CT)(MR), FAEIRS, an associate professor for Radiologic Sciences at Thomas Jefferson University's School of Health Professions (JSHP), was published in Radiologic Technology, the journal of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT), an award-winning journal that discusses all disciplines and specialties in radiologic sciences. Published in the July/August 2012 issue, Weening's article, "Degree Requirement & Employment Opportunity in Radiologic Science," discusses the short-term effects of upcoming increased minimum education requirements for certification in relation to future employment opportunities in radiologic sciences.

"The increased level of education that is being required of radiologic sciences certification examination candidates starting in 2015 is clearly a very positive development for the profession," says Weening. "However, if professional education programs are unable to provide sufficient numbers of graduates with the increased level of required education, then short-term economic dislocations could occur in the radiologic sciences labor market."

As a result, according to Weening's article, increases in the education requirements for radiologic technologists and radiation therapists could in effect lead to greater future employment opportunities in radiologic sciences than initially projected. Currently, about one-third of schools that offer a radiologic science program only award a certificate upon graduation, but future certification requirements will demand that professionals have a higher level of education.

Weening is director of the computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging bachelor degree programs at Jefferson. He was also a visiting scientist at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory in Princeton, New Jersey.

###

About Thomas Jefferson University

The Radiologic Sciences program at Jefferson School of Health Professions is part of Thomas Jefferson University (TJU), the largest free standing academic medical center in Philadelphia and nationally renowned for medical and health sciences education and innovative research. Founded in 1824, TJU also includes Jefferson Medical College (JMC), the Jefferson Schools of Nursing, Health Professions and Population Health and the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Jefferson University Physicians is TJU's multi-specialty physician practice consisting of the full-time faculty of JMC. Thomas Jefferson University partners with its clinical affiliate, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals.